Brisk walking and jogging are among the most common types of physical exercise which are chosen by millions of people around the world as the best type of daily workouts. Health benefits of walking and jogging on a regular basis have been studied lately very thoroughly. According to the findings of a scientific research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1996, only three 20-mintue jogging sessions a week performed on treadmill should be considered among the healthiest and the most effective physical exercise for our cardiovascular health, speeding up metabolism and calorie burning. That is why many choose walking and jogging to lose weight and maintain a great shape. Jogging benefits include improved circulation and blood pressure, healthier joints and bones, improved function of the respiratory system, and many more. In addition, jogging is a great choice for relaxation and effective stress relieving.

A new study published this spring in many leading online editions of the UK, suggests that those who like jogging or brisk walking and do this kind of exercise at least for one hour a week have very high chances to live a longer and possibly a much happier life. A team of Danish experts are convinced that choosing this kind of physical activity can bring us a great and priceless reward, which is 5-6 more years of life! Moreover, to achieve better results and maximize the effects of your weekly physical exercise, the experts recommend getting involved in gentle jogging or walking rather than in heavy power workouts or too active outdoor exercises. Danish scientists say that jogging benefits can be harvested exactly from average or even slow pace exercising, and just one or two hours of jogging a week can be enough for you to achieve success, regardless of your age or health condition.

The scientists analyzed the data on about 20,000 people aged between 20 and 93, collected for over 35-year period of time by the Copenhagen City Heart study. According to Dr. Peter Schnohr, a study leader and a cardiology specialist the Bispebjerg University Hospital, it was found that jogging is associated with as much as 44 per cent lower risk of death. The benefits of jogging were found for both women and men: life expectancy increase in men was as much as 6.2 years, and for women it was as much as 5.6 years. At the same time, it was not the only advantage of doing this kind of exercise. Improving oxygen uptake, preventing elevated blood pressure, strengthening our cardiovascular and psychological health are mentioned among the principal benefits of jogging. ‘The improved psychological wellbeing may be down to fact that people have more social interactions when they’re out jogging,’ Dr. Peter Schnoh wrote in the report.

The findings of Danish experts were among the first to support positive effects of jogging, in contrast to some other researches conducted for the last 30 years. Jogging benefits have been questioned by many specialists due to an increased interest to this kind of physical activities peacking in the late 70s-early 80s. As a respond of a few death of middle aged men who were avid joggers, a serious public polemics and scientific discussions about the risks and benefits linked to jogging was unfolded in the world’s mass media. Some studies have found this kind of exercise too strenuous for an average person. However, as the latest study confirmed, using jogging to lose weight or prolong your life can be a very smart and healthy idea. Lace up your running shoes and head to the gym nearby to enjoy a 30-minute jogging session 2-3 times a week, and to benefit from five-six of happy extra years in your life!